What should be done first when assisting a resident to use a commode?

When assisting a resident to use a commode, performing hand hygiene first is essential for several reasons. Hand hygiene is a critical practice to prevent the spread of infection. Before any interaction with a resident, including assisting them with toileting, it is important to ensure that your hands are clean to safeguard both your health and the resident's health.

By washing or sanitizing your hands before approaching the resident, you minimize the risk of transferring pathogens that could potentially cause infections. This step establishes a hygienic environment for the care you are about to provide. Since the commode is directly associated with personal hygiene and bodily functions, emphasizing hand hygiene before starting the procedure ensures a safer and cleaner experience for everyone involved.

While it is also crucial to explain the procedure and gather supplies, these steps follow hand hygiene for the best practice in infection control. Locking the commode wheels is an important safety measure, but it is secondary to ensuring that caregiver hands are hygienic before providing any assistance.